Rotary engine



(No. Model.) 7 3 sheets- -sheet 1.

J. I. FRIAR.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 391,892. Patented Oct. 80-, 1888.

WITNESSES INVENTOR 7 BY yfi m ,a g g' ,6 V ATTORNEYS.

N, PETERS. Phalo-Lilhagrnphqr, Washington. D. C,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

" (No Model.)

J. I. FRIAR.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 7 8 J. I. FRIAR.

ROTARY ENGINE. N0. 391,892. Patented Oct. 30, 1888.,

I x l H A WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

'vJ I v 3% ATTORNEYS.

linrrnn STATES JAMES IRA FRIAR, OF PASGAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,892, dated OctoberSO, 1888.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES Ina FRIAR, of Pascagoula, in the county of Jackson and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and Improved Botary Engine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved rotary engine which is simple and durable in construction and utilizes the steam to the fullest advantage.

The invention consists in the'construclion and arrangement of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improve ment. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection of the same on the line 00 roof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional elevation of the same on the line yg of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve-seat, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the steam partitionhead. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation of the gate and packing on the line 2 z in Fig. 7, and Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line y y of Fig. 2.

My improved rotary engine is provided with a cylinder, A, consisting of the central part, B, having on its lower end a base, by which the entire engine is supported on a suitable foundation. The central part, B, is covered at each side with part of a ring or annular plate, 0 or O, which plates are alike in construction and form in conjunction with the central part, B, the steam space D. The top part of thecylinderAis straight, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and supports the valve-seat E, on which is secured a steam-chest, F, provided with the steam-inlet F, and also containing a double slide-valve, G, secured to a valve'rod, G, pivotally connected with a lever, H, fulcrunied on a bracket, H, secured to the cylinder A. By moving the lever H forward or backward I am enabled to shift the slide-valve G onitsseat E. The latter is provided with the two steani'inlet ports a and 1), connecting the steam-chest F with the space D, formed in the cylinder A, on each side of the two downwardly-extendinglugs E, secured to the valveseat E. The latter is also provided with the exhaustports c and d, which extend a short distance from the top into the seat E, and both open at one end into a channel, 6, loading to the exhaust-pipe secured in any suitable man ner in the outer side of the valve'seat E. The ports a and 0 can be connected with each other by the cavity G, formed in the under side of the slide-valve G, and the ports b and d can be similarly connected with each other by the cavityG also formed in the underside of the slide-valve G. Between the cavities G and G are formed the porlsfand g in the slide-valve G,and adapted to connect alternately with the steam-inlet ports a and b, so as to admit steam from the steam-chest F into the spaceD in the cylinder A.

In the cylinder A is held to rotate a piston, I, secured to the shaft J, fastened in the center of said piston and mounted in suitable hearings on each side of the cylinder A, being also connected in any suitable manner with the machinery to be driven. The piston I is preferably made in two parts, K and L, united by radial webs and bolts, as shown in the drawings, of which the part K is the central one, being secured to the main driving-shaft J, and being provided with three radial slots, K. shaped, and is provided with three stuffingboxes, L, fitting with their openings over the slots K in the central part, K. In said slots K in the stuffing-boxes L are held to slide radially the gates N, each provided at its inner end on each edge with a frictionroller, O, fitting into a canrgroove, P, formed in a cam, P, secured to each side of the cylinder A. The lower part of the camgroove P is circular, having its center on the axis of the shaft J,- but the upper part of said cam-groove 1? is eccentric, as shown in Fig. 1. Then the friction-rollers 0 enter and pass through the circular parts of the cam grooves P, the gates N are respectively moved outward to the fullest extent and completely cover the interior space, D; but when the friction-rollers '0 pass from the semicircular parts of the cam-grooves I into the eccentric upper parts the gates N are alternately drawn inward until they are flush with the rim part L of the piston I, which takes place when a gateNstands in the vertical po- The other part, L, of the piston I is ring.

sition in the center of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. The rotary movement of the piston I then causes the friction-rollers O as they pass again into the semicircular parts of the camgrooves to move the gate N outward until it again intersects with the circular part of the groove 1 whereby the gate is again drawn out to its fullest extent.

In the middle of the under side of the valve seat E a cavity is formed between the downwardly-extending lugs E, above mentioned, and in this cavity is placed a steam partitionhead, Q, provided on top with a recess, Q, formed by the L -s haped plates Q", arranged, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when steam is ad mitted into said cavity Q said plates Q are pressed outward in tight contact with the walls forming the central opening in the valve-seat E. Steam is admitted to this central opening, Q, by a port, E in the valve-seat E, leading to said cavity, and said portE always registers with a port, G formed in the middle of the slide-valve G.

In order to establish a steam-tight joint between the rings 0 and O of the cylinder A and the rim part L of the piston I, I form a circular groove at the respective intersections of the rings 0 O and the ring L, and place in said groove a metallic ring, R, on which is placed a packing, S, of any suitable material. On top of this packing in said groove is placed a second metallic ring, T, held in place by screws U, screwing in the clamps V, held in any suitable manner on the rings 0 and O, as illustrated in Fig. 2. I am enabled in this manner to adjust the rings S and T so as to prevent leakage of the steam from the space D to the outside.

Each of the gates N is provided at its sides, near the top, with the openings N, leading to recesses N formed in the gate,and each recess contains two L-sha-ped plates, N overlapping each other, as shown in Fig. 6. Each plate N is provided on its inner ends with an offset, N,on which is held a spring, N resting with its free ends against a bar, N, bolted to the ends and sides of the gate N at the inside of the recesses N. The outer ends of the L.- shaped plates pass through the opening formed in the recesses N between the central end part of the gate N and the said bars N". When steam is admitted through the respective opening N of one gate N, then the L shaped plates are forced outward against the springs N, which are consequently compressed, and the outer ends of the said bars are forced in contact with the rings 0 C and the part B of the steam-space D in the cylinder A, thus forming a steamtight packing between the cylinder A and the respective gate N. When the exhaust takes place, then the compressed springs N force the plates N inward and out of contact with the sides and rim of the space D of the cylinder A. The plates N are thus held out of contact with the sides and rim of the space D until the respective gate N reaches its full stroke and takes the pressure of the steam.

Thus the noise and consequent wear which would otherwise take place are prevented.

The operation is as follows: When the machine is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the slide-valve G registers with its portg with the steam-inlet port b, and the ports a' and c are connected with each other by the cavity G formed in the under side of the slide-valve E. The steam now enters from the steam-chest through the port 9 into the port I), and from the latter passes into the steam-space D, formed in the cylinder A at the right of the partitionhead G, so that the steam exerts its pressure against the gate drawn out to its fullest extent by the friction-wheels 0 having just entered the circular part of the eam-groove P. The piston I is thus forced to rotate in the direction of the arrow a, whereby the friction-wheels O travelin the cam-groove I and thus enter alternately the circular part of the groove and the eccentric part of the groove, whereby the gates are drawn inward and outward, so that the steam entering through the ports above described always acts with its full pressure on the respective gate whenever it is drawn out to its fullest extent-that is, when the fric tion-rollers 0 enter the circular part of the cam-groove P. WVhen the friction-rollers O on the inner end of the gate reach the eccentric part of the cam groove P, then the steam in front of the extended gate N escapes out through the port a into the cavity G in the slide-valve G and into the exhaust-port c, from which it passes into the channel 0 and out through the exhaust-pipe connected with said channel. Steam also enters from the steamchest F through the port G- into the port E and into the cavity Q of the partition-head Q, whereby said partitionhead is pressed in con tact with the rim of the part L of the piston I, and at the same time the Lshaped bars Q are pressed outward in contact with the surrounding walls in the valve-seat E, so that no live steam can leak back from the steanrspace D, and the exhaust-steam is also prevented from leaking forward .into the live-steam part of the space D.

\Vhen the operator desires to reverse the engine, he throws the lever H inward toward the steam-chest F,so as to disconnect the ports g and b and connect the portf with the port a. At the same time the ports b and d are connected with each other by the cavity G in the under side of the slide-valve G. The steam now enters the port f and passes into the port a and to the left side of the compartment D,

ITO

so that the steam now exerts its pressure against the respective gate N in the inverse direction of the arrow a. The exhaust takes place through the port I), the cavity G and the port d, from which the steam passes into the channel e and out through the exhaust-pipe.

It will be seen that the steam-tight packing is arranged at all the joints, so as to prevent leakage of the steam, and at the same time friction has been reduced to a great extent, so as to insure an easy running of the piston.

By forming the cylinder with a concentric longitudinal opening the heat .of the steam is removed from the shaft and boxes a distance in proportion to the diameter of the engine, and the trouble arising from hot boxes is obviated, and more power in proportion to the weight of the engine and boiler can be obtained by having this opening. For example, if I have a five-horsepower boiler and the work requires a ten-horse power boiler, but circumstances will not allow of the usual weight of a boiler and engine of such sizes-for instance, where aportable hoisting-engi ne is requiredI take a five-horsepower boiler and construct an engine with the piston area of the five-horsepower engine, but with a diameter increased to the required dimensions to make it a tenhorse power. If the piston required three gates for a five-horse power to divide up the cylinder so as to give the required cylinderspace to a given amount of fire box and gratesurface, and a ten-horsepower engine was to be run by a five-horse-power boiler, it would only be necessary to double the number of V gates in the piston, the space between each gate being the amount estimated upon.

It will be seen that by having the concentric longitudinal opening the weight of the engine would not increase in the same ratio, as the weight of the valve, steam-chest, and thickness of the cylinder would remain the same, and the increase in weight by the above change would be about onethird, while the power would be doubled.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In a rotary steam-engine, a cylinder having a concentric longitudinal opening and a cam held on said central opening at each side of said cylinder, in combination with a piston traveling in said central opening, and gates adapted to slide radially in said piston and car rying friction rollers traveling on said cam, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a rotary steam-engine, a cylinder having a concentric longitudinal opening, a valveseat heldon top of said cylinder and provided with ports leading to said cylinder, a partition-head held in said valve-seat between said ports, and a double valve held on said valveseat to regulate the entrance and exhaust of the steam, in combination with a piston traveling in the central opening of the cylinder, gates adapted to slide radially in said piston and into and out of said cylinder, and stationary cams held on said cylinder and engaged by friction-rollers on said gates, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a rotary steam-engine, a cylinder having a concentriclongitudinal opening and cams supported on each side of said cylinder, in combination with a piston secured to the main shaft and traveling in the central opening of said cylinder, gates adapted to slide radially in said piston, friction-rollers secured to the ends of said gates and traveling in the camgrooves of said ca1ns,and packing-rings formed on said gates, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a rotary steam-engine, a eylinderhaw inga concentriclongitudinal opening and cams held on each side of said cylinder, and each provided with a camgroove which is circular in its lower half and eccentric in its upper half, in combination with a piston made in two parts, of which the outer part is a ring fitting in the central opening in said cylinder, and the inner part is fastened on the main shaft, gates adapted to slide in radial grooves formed in said piston, and friction-rollers secured to the ends of said gates and traveling in the camgrooves of said cams, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having a concentric longitudinal opening, a piston fitted and rotating in said opening and provided with a radial gate, and a cam for operating the said gate, substantially as set forth.

6. In a rotary steam-engine, a cylinder having a concentric longitudinal opening, a piston fitting in said central opening and secured to the main shaft, and gates adapted to slide radially in said piston and into the said cylinder, in combination with a valve-seat held on top of said cylinder and provided with two ports, a partition-head heldin said valve-seat between said two ports, a steam-chest secured on top ofsaid valve-seat, and a double valve held in said steam-chest on said valve-seat to regulate the admission and exhaust of steam, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a rotary steam-engine, a cylinderhaving a concentric longitudinal opening,a piston fitting into said central opening, and gates adapted to slide radially in said piston andinto said cylinder, in combination with a valve-seat held on top of said cylinder and provided with inlet and outlet ports, a partition-head held in said valve-seat between said ports, a steam chest secured on top of said valve-seat, a double valve held in said steam-chest and op erating above said ports, and a valve-rod extending to the outside and adapted to be shifted in order to reverse the engine, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a rotary steam-engine, the combination, with a cylinder having a concentric longitudinal opening, a piston fitting in said central opening, gates adapted to slide radially in said piston, and said cylinder, of a valveseat held on top of said cylinder and provided with steam inlet and outlet ports, and also provided with a central port, apartition-head held in the bottom of said valve-seat between said first-named ports, said central port opening into said partition-head, a steam-chest held on top of said valve-seat, and a double valve operating in said steamchest over said ports, so as to regulate the admission and exhaust of the steam to and from the cylinder, and also to admit steam to said partition'head, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a rotary steam-engine, the combina- IIO tion, with a cylinder, of gates held to slide in the said cylinder, and each provided on its sides with openings leading to a recess, L- shaped plates held to slide in the said recess and in contact with the said cylinder, and springs against which operate the said plates, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a rotary steam-engine, the combination, with a gate provided on each side with 10 an opening leading to a recess, of L-shaped plates held in each recess and overlapping each other, and springs held in said recesses ing the side opening of the gate, substantially [5 as shown and described.

JAMES IRA FRIAR. Witnesses:

A. SODERSTROM, CHAS. J. EUREN. 

